Myanmar’s flag mistaken as Taiwan’s in Okinawa

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Okinawa monorail station in Japan reportedly mistook the national flag of Myanmar as that of Taiwan, a local cable TV station reported yesterday.

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The TVBS reported that a Taiwanese tourist to Okinawa recently was surprised to find that Myanmar’s flag was mistaken as Taiwan’s flag at an Okinawa monorail station, and immediately called Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for clarification.

Myanmar’s national flag is 95 percent similar to Taiwan’s in the graphic designs and colors.

For Taiwan’s flag, the bright sunshine on the upper left corner represents equality, the blue sky implies freedom, and the red earth indicates universal love.

By contrast, also on the upper left corner of Myanmar’s flag, the rice plant spike represents the nation’s agricultural industry, gears indicates emerging industries, and 14 bright stars refer to 14 administration districts of the country.

It was reported that as Taiwan’s flag was banned from entering tournament sites during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, some people took in Myanmaran flags to as a substitute for Taiwan’s to cheer Chinese Taiwan athletes.